Friday, November 9, 2012

A Thankful Heart: Grace

[grace: the active communication of divine blessings by the inworking of the Holy Spirit, out of the fullness of Jesus]

Most days, I remember to see glimpses of God's grace.
Some days, I forget. Or I choose to not remember those moments.
But there are those few days when the entire day is filled with an abundance of moments of grace.
Like today.

Today was my "weekend" {in the life of a nurse}.
I woke up to a wet ground and cloudy skies... remnants of rain.
My sister and I went for a pleasant walk around the lake with our puppies.
Then we picked up Christmas drinks.
I came home to a cozy and clean home, and my husband working happily from home.
I bundled up for a lunch date with our good friend at a yummy hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop.
I spent the afternoon sipping coffee and crafting to music.
Jesus and I had a sweet worship session and I read about David's heart in 1 Chronicles.
I listened to a happy husband's voice chat with his friend and watched our puppies play.

And I recognize that these are glimpses of the Lord's grace in my life.
I'm thankful for small pieces of Kingdom vision that allow me to identify grace.
I'm humbled by a God who cares so deeply for His people that he would bless us so abundantly.
Ultimately, I'm forever saved by the God who died for me and is alive today.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

A Thankful Heart: Community

I have been a part of many different bible studies growing up. 
Each of which helped form and shape me into the woman I am today.
Each brought {primarily} women who loved Jesus and loved each other 
to teach me love and joy and grace.

The most recent bible study I have the privilege of being a part of 
is made up of J and me, and just a few special friends.
I must say, it has been such a blessing to do community with others in a raw way.
I love growing with others in the Lord and in friendship.

Tonight was another night of fellowship with friends.
And I'm reminded how thankful I am for community.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

A Thankful Heart: Conversations of Hope

I spent much of the morning today talking to J about life.
We discussed finances, the future of our family, and our vision for life.
We shared dreams and together created goals and ideas.

I love heartfelt conversations in which dreaming can happen, the future becomes almost attainable, and the present becomes more amazing than I realized.

Today, I am thankful for the ability to hope,
parameters within which to hope and freedom to then jump outside those limits,
and a husband to jump with.

Friday, November 2, 2012

A Thankful Heart: New Life & Coffee Dates in Red Cups

Today, I had the blessing of making house visits and visiting special people in my life.

First, I spent the morning with my special friend at home on bedrest.
We celebrated her birthday with peppermint lattes and lots of girl talk on her comfy couches.
Sipping coffee, doing her dishes, sharing in her nursery room joy,
and talking about the future of children and the treasure of new life.
Laughing thinking back over the journey of life we have walked through together 
and how we ended up where we are now.
I loved every minute of our time together.
The Lord is molding her heart for the little one still growing inside her 
and I am so excited for her to get to experience being a mom. 
She's going to be amazing at it.
 [from her baby shower last week]

Then I visited my little buddy Adrian and his mommy Nicole.
I used to have the privilege of watching him grow up every day.
Now I get to jump in for snippets every once in awhile.
It was so fun to watch this little 2 1/2 year old jump around, dance, laugh, ask for tickles, and tell me all the words he knows. And it was so special to catch up with his mommy and hear about the family and wedding plans and silly kid stories and yummy dinner ideas.
All over white peppermint mocha frappuccinos.

There's something about sharing coffee with friends that creates a bond.
Especially on day one of red cups.

It is so exciting to think about the future, to share dreams with each other, to laugh,
to plan and then say - Lord take my plan.

Today, I am thankful for new life. 
And getting to see and share in it over red coffee cups.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

A Thankful Heart: November

November 1st brings with it many warm feelings... and most of them involve thankfulness.

Thankful for fall.
Thankful for family.
Thankful for weather changes.
Thankful for the near completion of another year.
Thankful for the upcoming holiday season.
Thankful for joy.

And so, this November, like last November, I come to this place with a thankful heart.

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."